Happy Monday! So how are things? I am finishing up a nice weekend off. #WINI don’t know about you, but lately, I’ve been coming home from work EXHAUSTED!I promised myself I would stop complaining about how tired I was from work on here, but I was asked recently how I relaxed after a stressful day. Honestly, in the past I just sucked it up and keep going. I used to tell myself that this was my life and that I had to keep going, people were depending on me. End of story.

But over the past few years, I’ve realized that if I want to continue to kick-ass at work, I need to make my health and well-being a priority. I have to set firm boundaries and build in downtime for myself.

I stared by creating a routine to help me relax when I get home. This gives me time to unwind and de-stress and makes the rest of the evening so much better.

Talking to other women it's the same. Let's face it, it hard to relax after work when you have so much to do at home or if you run a side business, and especially if you have a family. OMG! The worknever ends!

OMG! The laundry never ends!

I’d get home and think about the 10,000 different projects I wanted to get started on, plus all the normal day-to-day stuff like gardening and laundry that needed to be tended too and then stay busy until I fell into bed, sometime around 11:45.

Relaxing wasn’t something I was totally comfortable with. So if that sounds familiar and you need some help in the relaxing department, I have put together a few easy ways to relax after a long day at work.

Change Out of Your Work ClothesBegin the minute you walk through the door.There’s nothing better than getting home from work and changing into a comfy t-shirt and losing the bra! Changing out of my work clothes tells my brain that its time to relax, and that I can enjoy a few hours to myself, without the stress of work weighing on my shoulders.

Turn off Your PhoneI’m on my phone all day long, and if I’m not on my phone, I’m on my computer. I’m answering e-mails, returning voicemails, processing paperwork, so when I get home, my brain needs a break. I’m legit sick of my phone by the time I get home, so I’ve been making an effort to unplug for a couple of hours. I’ll leave my phone in my bedroom for an hour or two and I’ll go out to the family room to do anything other than check my social media. This has helped my sanity tremendously. #BIGWIN

Meditate/Do Yoga​After a long day at work, it’s so great to spend a few minutes meditating. I'm actually a meditating expert, (I teach meditation), and because of that I know that anyone can learn this simple form of relaxation.

Begin by just sitting on the floor for five minutes, and do nothing other than focusing on your breathing. This is also a great time to give thanks for the day and just be still. But if you’re not a fan of meditating or you’re just not ready for it, do some yoga or at the very least, stretch. Chances are, you’ve been sitting on your butt all day long, and your body needs some stretching. Trust me, you’ll feel SO MUCH BETTER! Another great way to unwind is reading.

Grab A BookIt's no secret I am a total bookworm! I love to sit in the garden or my reading nook and just relax with a good book. Even if you can only read for half an hour it will help you relax.

Take A Bubble Bath​I swear, I think my bath tub is my favorite part of my new house. If it wasn’t for the fact that you get all wrinkly after sitting in the tub for a while, I think I’d stay in there for hours at a time. After a super stressful day at work, there’s nothing like slipping into a hot bubble bath. I use two different kinds of soaking baths- eucalyptus/sea salt and lavender- both are amazing for helping me achieve a few minutes of pure relaxation.

And speaking of scents...

Use Essential OilsRight before bed I turn on my diffuser. I keep it filled with essential oil and not only does it relax me, but it helps me fall asleep quickly. I have one in my bedroom, one in the guest room and a large one in the formal living room. Plus I'm thinking of adding one to my office. I love oils THAT MUCH.

Light Candles After a long day at work, I love lighting candles. It really sets the tone for the evening and it helps me remember to take it easy. It signals my brain that the rest of the night is for unwinding and a gentler pace.

Herbal TeaUnwind with a mug of soothing herbal tea. The feel of your favorite mug in your hand and the wonderful aroma of a soothing herbal blend work together to help you relax. There are so many different blends to try, just make sure you get an organic tea that is pesticide free.

How do you unwind and relax from a stressful day? I'd love to hear your tips - leave me a comment below and let's discuss.

Hi,So I am off my "book fast" and currently building my TBR stack. I enjoy spending time browsing online and in person at used bookstore because you never know what you will stumble upon.

Some authors might argue that books shouldn’t be sold in this manner since they don’t earn royalties on used books. I understand that, but as is the case with libraries, used book stores are a great place to discover authors and their work and add to your collection. If you are like me, once I find an author I like I usually purchase the entire catalogue.

Ignore the stickers...

Today's treasure were:

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. I've been wanting to read this book for sometime, just was too lazy to actually make an effort to buy it. (Because Amazon is so much work, right?) Yeah, I have no excuse. Enjoy both authors, so I'm excited to dive into it.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandra Dumas. I'm sure I read this is school, but I can't actually remember? So thought I would give it a go.

The Art of War by Sun Tzu which I could have sworn I owned a copy of this book till I went to reference a quote and released it isn't on any of the shelves. Hmmmm, I wonder if I loaned it out and then promptly moved away? No matter, if it turns up I will have a copy to gift.

Another reason I'm drawn to used books is they offer a sense of their personal history. “To Jim, with love, Margret” makes me wonder about Jim and Margret and about their connection to the book. How did the book find it's way here? How many hands did it pass through?

I rarely see a book with lots of highlighting and comments in the margins. Most often they maybe a bit worn from repeated reading, but I actually take that as a positive sign.

So other than book shopping it was a normal day of work and usual errands. I plan on taking next weekend off to read and finish the details of my upcoming December trip.

I admit I love travel planning!

After much research I have narrowed it down to two lovely guests houses for my next trip. This weekend I plan on booking one as I map out the rest of the adventure. This jaunt has a lot of moving pieces as I have a multiple state expeditions planned and have to schedule in work around sightseeing.

I know by December I will be ready for some warm weather, but I'm happy now to pull out the boots and jackets.

Overall I'm enjoying the cooler weather this week. How about you?

The fall weather is so nice! I dug out warmer leggings and last years boots earlier in the month and was pleased to see the boots are now a bit big on my legs. #ThankYouYoga

While I'm still not where I want to be, the scales has finally started tipping in the right direction. Plus I feel so much better as well. Between yoga, walking more and eating better I feel much more like myself again. Now I'm ready to go adventure!

Just as I was ending this entry, the post arrived with MORE BOOKS!

I purchased these online from Thrift Books and they are in excellent condition.

Confession Time: I have been doing yoga off and on since I was a teenager. But sadly the last few years I haven’t practiced more than once or twice a month, if that. :(

In August I committed to a daily workout and couldn't be happier. I currently spend about 30 minutes every morning stretching and relaxing in different poses. Yoga makes my body feel good. It feels great on my spine, and I can feel the tension in my back releasing as I perform the different poses. From there it is easy to flow into my morning meditation and writing. #BIGWIN

And yes, all this happens before work.Last year I could not have imaged having time enough in the mornings for more than that cup of coffee as I ran out the door! But since I have hired extra help in the office, I have gotten my life back. Thankfully my entire morning has changed for the better.

How am I finding extra time for yoga?Waking up earlier (and going to bed earlier) ensures I have time for Yoga in the mornings. I used to stay up late working and then felt like crap the next day. Now I have a set schedule and relaxing night time routine. Not only do I feel better, I'm also calmer and unruffled all day long.

The yoga has helped me feel less stressed mentally and my body feels more open and relaxed. This is true even when work gets crazy and I have to work those long hours. I have also noticed when I do morning yoga I'm less likely to eat crap or have another cup of coffee.

What is your favorite form of exercise? Does it help you beat stress too? I’d love to hear.

Author

Welcome to my travel blog, my healthy Vegan lifestyle blog and my life! It's a lot, but it's my passions and I just love to write about it. Here I share tips, stories and photos from my adventures and life. This is the place where people can find daily inspiration to travel and motivation to live healthier lives and laugh a bit too!

From art to shopping I'm just an average woman Enjoying and learning about life veery day. Follow my journeys as I travel, shop, and meditate my way through life...